You can find a person as well as an object. The choice between bulmak and buluşmak depends on what happens, not simply on whether a person is involved.
The idea
Use bulmak when you find something or locate someone: Seni buldum means “I found you”. Use buluşmak when people meet up, often by arrangement: Seninle buluştum means “I met up with you”. The person you meet is a partner introduced with ile or its attached form, not a direct object. With an adjective, bulmak can also express an opinion: Bu planı mantıklı buluyorum means “I find this plan sensible”. The linked verb lessons cover the forms.
| Verb | Question about the person or object | Example |
|---|---|---|
| bulmak | Neyi? / Kimi? | Cüzdanımı buldum. / Seni buldum. |
| buluşmak | Kiminle? | Seninle buluştum. |
Examples
- Anahtarımı çekmecede buldum.I found my key in the drawer.
- Dün komşularımla buluştum.I met up with my neighbours yesterday.
- Seni sonunda buldum.I finally found you.
- Seninle yarın kütüphanede buluşacağım.I will meet up with you at the library tomorrow.
- Toplantı için sessiz bir kafe bulduk.We found a quiet café for the meeting.
- Toplantıdan önce kafede buluştuk.We met up at the café before the meeting.
- Bu çözümü oldukça pratik buluyorum.I find this solution quite practical.
- Kalabalıkta kardeşimi hemen bulamadım.I could not find my sibling in the crowd right away.
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Watch out
Do not keep the object form when you switch verbs: Seni buluştum is incorrect; use Seninle buluştum. Conversely, Seni buldum is perfectly natural if you located someone in a crowd. Finding does not have to involve a lost object.
Try it yourself
Fill the blank with the option that fits the situation: Çantam kayıptı. Sonunda onu dolapta ___. (buldum / buluştum)
Show answer or example answer
buldum
buldum: the bag was missing and is now located in the cupboard. The object onu refers to the bag; there is no meeting partner.
Fill the blank with the option that fits the situation: Dün kardeşimle kahve içmek için ___. (buldum / buluştum)
Show answer or example answer
buluştum
buluştum: drinking coffee with a sibling gives the purpose of getting together. The partner is already marked by kardeşimle.
Fill the blank with the option that fits the situation: Yarın ___ buluşacağım. (seni / seninle)
Show answer or example answer
seninle
seninle: you are the person taking part in the meeting, so the sentence needs “with you”. Seni would make you the direct object.
Fill the blank with the option that fits the situation: Bu planı mantıklı ___. (buluyorum / buluşuyorum)
Show answer or example answer
buluyorum
buluyorum: mantıklı gives the speaker’s assessment of the plan. Nobody is meeting the plan; the meaning is “I consider it sensible”.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Turkish sentences and words where available. We keep your score.
Fill the blank with the option that fits the situation: Çantam kayıptı. Sonunda onu dolapta ___. (buldum / buluştum)
Fill the blank with the option that fits the situation: Dün kardeşimle kahve içmek için ___. (buldum / buluştum)
Fill the blank with the option that fits the situation: Yarın ___ buluşacağım. (seni / seninle)
Fill the blank with the option that fits the situation: Bu planı mantıklı ___. (buluyorum / buluşuyorum)
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Write a pair of sentences about the same person: first locating them in a crowd, then meeting up for coffee. Add one opinion about the café using bulmak with an adjective.